Supporters in the Iranian capital Tehran have flocked to see Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr teammates ahead of their historic clash with Persepolis on Tuesday evening

Cristiano Ronaldo arrives in Tehran (Image: Persepolis FC/AFP via Getty Imag)

Al-Nassr’s team bus was chased by adoring fans hoping to catch a glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of an historic clash in Iran.

The Saudi side have travelled to Tehran for a match with Persepolis on Tuesday evening. It signals the first time that Saudi Arabian teams have been welcomed to the country since 2016.

Iran’s turbulent diplomatic position among world leaders had led to top football clubs and players from refusing to visit the country. Saudi clubs followed that stance after a group of hardline Iranian militiamen – known as the Basij – attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

Clubs from the gulf state then refused to travel for any international sports competition and claimed that their security was not guaranteed. Instead, matches were played on neutral ground.

However, the ban has now been lifted ahead of Al-Nassr’s Asian Football Confederation Champions League fixture with Persopolis. Ronaldo and his teammates have already travelled to the nation and his presence alone appears to have driven supporters into a frenzy.

Crowds of fans decked out in Ronaldo shirts welcomed Al-Nassr to the country with some even chasing the team’s bus through the streets. Whilst fans are no doubt looking forward to the game, Tuesday’s clash at the Azadi Stadium will actually take place behind closed doors.

Thousands of fans turned up to greet Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr teammate ( Image: ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)

That is due to a punishment handed out by the AFC as punishment for Persepolis relating to a social media post about Indian side FC Goa in 2021. The post allegedly caused offence to the people of India, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) lodging a formal complaint.

The game though is still an historic affair with a number of major decisions leading to the lifting of the Saudi ban. Firstly, China brokered a deal to restore the diplomatic relationship between the Gulf state and Iran.

Meanwhile, the summer’s influx of world-class talent to Saudi Arabia over the past year – Ronaldo spearheading an influx of moves – played a major role in the agreement. A statement from the AFC confirmed the possibilty of the fixture being played in Iran earlier this month.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Al-Nassr teammates flew into Tehran on Monday ( Image: Persepolis FC/AFP via Getty Imag)

It read: “The AFC welcomes the historic move as it reflects the commitment of both the SAFF and FFIRI towards fostering closer ties between their respective footballing communities, allowing clubs to host matches on their home turf and visiting the respective away stadiums, creating a more engaging and exciting experience for the fans and players alike.

“Passionate fans across Saudi Arabia, IR Iran and the whole of Asia can now look forward to a thrilling new chapter in club and national team football as teams from SAFF and FFIRI compete in the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

“With the home-and-away matches of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 season between clubs of the SAFF and FFIRI set to kick off on September 19, the AFC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of all stakeholders involved in these matches, while securing the necessary approvals of the relevant AFC committees.”

Ronaldo, 38, arrives in Terhan in electric form this season. He has scored seven goals and notched five assists in only six appearances for Al-Nassr this season.